Football expert Maksim Demenko shared his predictions about the match against Zenit in an exclusive interview with the online publication "Euro-Football.Ru." This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
Both Spartak and Zenit did not start the season well. What feelings are there before the derby?
There is no clear favorite yet, but the Zenit team seems to have a slight advantage. Spartak has problems and the team is unbalanced.
Head coach Stankovich has not yet fully put the game on track. At the same time, this match not only arouses interest but also has additional significance.
There are talks that this might be Stankovich's last game. However, he is still working under contract and must fulfill it.
I don't know how it will continue. If he loses, immediate resignation is unlikely, but such a situation could arise.
What should Spartak rely on to win? First of all, it is necessary not to lose.
A draw is not beneficial for anyone because the rivals will increase the gap. Zenit is definitely coming for a victory.
I expected Spartak to show interesting football in the match against Lokomotiv, but it is clear that there are problems. Is a draw more favorable for the "red-whites" than for the guests?
Yes, that's right. It is difficult to predict Stankovich's main lineup because he constantly tries new options, but so far there is no result.
Perhaps the coach can prepare the team, but the game will be tough. Also for Zenit.
At the moment, the Saint Petersburg team looks superior to the Moscow team. Who is preferable to field in attack?
Probably Ugalde will play on the front line or with two forwards. An unexpected approach should be presented to Zenit.
The most important thing is that the team must be physically prepared, but so far such preparation is not visible. Does Stankovich still have a chance to improve Spartak?
There is no result; the team lacks game schemes and situations. As a coach, Stankovich must solve these problems.
It is difficult to achieve this in a week. Only through motivation, just as Cherchesov did when he came to Akhmat, by inspiring the team, can results be seen.
He inspired the team and helped them win against Zenit. The team can only unite in this way.
Will this game be a turning point for the "red-whites"? Yes, a victory can inspire and unite the team.
Anything is possible. What can you say about the news of Jigon's return to Spartak?
This could be a good option, but he has been absent from the team for a long time. How he will adapt is unknown.
Also, when the club is not playing well, any player coming in cannot immediately change the game. However, he has a fighting spirit.
Perhaps this is exactly the leader Spartak is missing? That's right.
The team lacks a leader who leads them onto the field. Jigon's age of 31 is not old for football.
If he is in good form, there is no problem. His cooperation with Babich could be interesting.
